Brass helmet mask for the Ododua
ritual

Edo peoples, 18th century
ADFrom Benin, Nigeria

In addition to his executive powers and duties,
the Oba (king) of Benin also performed a number of rituals
throughout the year. Guilds of specialists such as drummers,
shield-bearers, carvers, brass-casters and weavers provided regalia
and ritual objects. The cycle of ceremonies coincides with the
agricultural cycle, but they are also concerned with the
strengthening of the
kingdom.

The first festival
of the year is the Ikhurhe which is performed to purify the land in
preparation for planting. This is followed by the Bead Festival,
Ugie Ivie, in remembrance of ancestral warrior kings. The two most
important rituals are the Ugie Erha Oba, in honour of the
king's deceased father, and the Igue which strengthens the
king's mystical powers. Igue includes the presentation of
gifts by the Oba to his chiefs, dances in ceremonial costumes,
animal sacrifices to the king, and the application of magical
substances onto his body. On the last day children carry torches to
drive away evil spirits from the town and gather
ewere leaves or
'leaves of joy' on the outskirts of the town which
are then taken home as symbols of hope and
happiness.

This brass
helmet is used in the Ododua ritual, in honour of the father of
Oranmiyan, the legendary founder of the ruling dynasty. The dance
is performed by seven masqueraders who wear brass helmets and carry
ceremonial swords to signify their high status. They dance back and
forth before the Oba seven times as a sign of their commitment and
loyalty.

P. Girshick Ben-Amos, The art of Benin (London, The British Museum Press, 1995)